Ursuline grad sings national anthem during Obama visit

Nichele Nicole Scott, an Austintown native and 2007 graduate of Ursuline High School, sang the national anthem at President Barack Obama’s campaign visit at Kent State University last week.

“I’m really excited about singing the national anthem during Obama’s visit here at Kent State,” Scott said before her performance. “This is my first time. But what is really ironic is that my father’s name is Francis Scott, and the national anthem was written by Francis Scott Key in 1814 — and he so elegantly wrote about how our star-spangled banner [the United States flag] continued to wave in the midst of war, confusion and death.”

She said the song “represents the fight that Obama is doing for the American people every day so that we can continue to live in a free country giving all men and women an equal opportunity.”

Scott continued her education at Kent, earning a Bachelor of Science in MicroBiology and Cellular Sciences last year. She is pursuing her master’s degree. Scott is the daughter of Francis Scott and Natalie E. Scott, both of Austintown.